Personal monitoring apparatus and methods

Abstract

An apparatus, including a personal monitoring device and a drone. The personal monitoring device monitors a movement of the individual and detects a deviation from an expected position or location, or detects a deviation from an expected travel route, by the individual, generates a message containing information regarding when the individual deviated from the expected position or location or deviated from the expected travel route, and transmits the message or information contained in the message to the drone. An operation of the drone is activated, the drone travels to the position or location of the personal monitoring device, records video information or video and audio information, and transmits the video information or the video and audio information to a user communication device or to a central processing computer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a personal monitoring device, wherein the personal monitoring device is a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a watch, a wearable device, or an implantable device, and further wherein the personal monitoring device further comprises:   a database, wherein the database stores a travel itinerary or a travel schedule of or for an individual;   a processor;   a global positioning system device; and   a transmitter; and   a drone,   wherein the personal monitoring device monitors a movement of the individual and compares information obtained by the global positioning system device with information contained in the travel itinerary or the travel schedule of or for the individual, and further wherein the personal monitoring device detects a deviation from an expected position or location of the individual or detects a deviation from an expected travel route by the individual, and further wherein the personal monitoring device generates a message containing information regarding a date and a time when the individual deviated from the expected position or location or when the individual deviated from the expected travel route in response to the deviation from the expected position or location detected by the personal monitoring device, or in response to the deviation from the expected travel route detected by the personal monitoring device, and further wherein the message contains position or location information of or for the personal monitoring device, and further wherein the personal monitoring device transmits the message or information contained in the message to the drone in response to the deviation from the expected position or location detected by the personal monitoring device, or in response to the deviation from the expected travel route detected by the personal monitoring device, wherein an operation of the drone is activated in response to receiving the message transmitted from the personal monitoring device, and further wherein the drone travels to the position or location of the personal monitoring device, and further wherein the drone records video information or records video and audio information of the individual or of an area in a vicinity of the personal monitoring device or the individual, and further wherein the drone transmits the video information or transmits the video and audio information to a user communication device or to a central processing computer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position or location information of or for the personal monitoring device contains latitude information and longitude information of or regarding the personal monitoring device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone further comprises:
 a controller;   a video recording device;   an audio recording device;   a light or a lighting system; and   a speaker,   wherein the drone activates the light or lighting system to illuminate an area in the vicinity of the personal monitoring device or the individual, and further wherein the drone broadcasts a message via the speaker.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the drone further comprises:
 an emergency landing system, wherein the emergency landing system further comprises:   a parachute; and   a parachute deployment system.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the drone detects an occurrence of an emergency condition or event, wherein the emergency condition or event is a detection of a low battery level, a detected force or shock exerted on the drone, or a detection of an unsafe attitude of the drone, and further wherein the drone, in response to detecting the occurrence of the emergency condition or event, activates the parachute deployment system to deploy the parachute. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone provides or facilitates, and records, a video conference between the individual and a user or operator of the user communication device, the central processing computer, a law enforcement communication device, an emergency services provider communication device, or a venue or vehicle computer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone further comprises a camera, and further wherein the camera is a night vision camera or an infrared camera. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone operates and travels autonomously. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone operates and travels under remote control, and further wherein the drone is remotely controlled via the user communication device, the central processing computer, or a remote control device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone further comprises:
 an RFID tag.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone is tethered to a structure, a venue, or a vehicle, with a tethering cable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the drone further comprises:
 a controller, wherein the controller activates a tether release system to release the drone from the tether.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drone or a second drone is deployed to monitor or inspect a venue or a vehicle or an area at, near, or in the vicinity of, the venue or the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the drone or the second drone is deployed in response to the deviation of the individual from the expected position or location or in response to the deviation of the individual from the expected travel route. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the drone or the second drone is deployed in response to a detection of fire at the venue or the vehicle, or wherein the drone or the second drone is deployed in response to a detection of burglary or criminal activity at the venue or the vehicle, or wherein the drone or the second drone is deployed in response to a detection of a presence of a dangerous gas or substance at the venue or the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the drone or the second drone is deployed in response to a detection of a presence of a dangerous gas or substance at the venue or the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal monitoring device transmits a position or location update message, or a plurality of position or location update messages, to the drone. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal monitoring device transmits the message to a user communication device or to a central processing computer, and further wherein the personal monitoring device transmits a position or location update message, or a plurality of position or location update messages, to the user communication device, the central processing computer, a law enforcement communication device, an emergency services provider communication device, or a venue or vehicle computer. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal monitoring device transmits the message to a user communication device or to a central processing computer, and further wherein the drone receives a drone activation signal from the user communication device, the central processing computer, a law enforcement communication device, an emergency services provider communication device, or a venue or vehicle computer. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the personal monitoring device transmits the message to the user communication device or to the central processing computer, and further wherein the drone or the second drone receives a drone activation signal from the user communication device, the central processing computer, a law enforcement communication device, an emergency services provider communication device, or a venue or vehicle computer.